Authorities carry the debris of a drone that crashed into the National Oil Refinery. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS

KARACHI:

A major disaster was averted on Tuesday morning when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Pakistan Navy crashed inside the premises of the National Oil Refinery in Korangi. Even though there were no injuries on the ground and all installations remained safe from possible damage, the stock price of the National Refinery fell by Rs7.98 to close at Rs364.88 at the Karachi Stock Exchange.

Officially, Pakistan Navy says that the ill-fated UAV was a “small remote-controlled aircraft” on a “routine mission” that crashed when it “hit an eagle” during mid flight between 9:30 and 10 am. Officials said that the aircraft had a wing span of around 10 feet which is typically used for target practice. One spokesperson said that the aircraft was almost ‘toy like’ and nothing serious had occurred.

However, sources within Pakistan Navy and the local drone manufacturing industry told The Express Tribune that the pilotless aircraft was a mid range tactical UAV called the Uqaab, which is typically used for surveillance missions. The locally-manufactured Uqaab has a wing span of about 20 feet, weighs more than 200kgs and its 550cc engine runs on gasoline

“Had this 200-kg aircraft hit an oil depot, the consequences would have been disastrous,” one drone expert revealed.

This heavy machine that is typically fitted with sensors and high-powered still and video cameras, was flown from the PNS Mehran base, which in the recent past faced the brunt of an attack by terrorists. Since the attack on the Mehran base, Pakistan Navy has increased surveillance in areas surrounding all of its bases. Although the Uqaab has not been formally inducted into service by Pakistan Navy and has been in the trial phase with the armed forces for many months, it is being used for reconnaissance missions along the bay and coastal areas of the city. Even before the attacks, the unarmed drones have been flown from PNS Mehran many times before this incident, a navy official said.

Sources say that it is highly unlikely that a bird caused the crash. “The Uqaab has a fibre glass body and a propeller engine at its back. It would take an eagle made of steel with razor wings to bring it down,” according to one drone expert, who stressed on the absurdity of the claim. According to him, like many other mid-range tactical UAVs, the Uqaab, too, has had issues, including flight control algorithm problems and mechanical failure.

The National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) had indigenously developed the Uqaab in collaboration with some local scientists.

Chief Fire Officer Ehteshaam Siddiqui said two fire brigades were moved to the area immediately after the incident. However, police and Rangers posted at the gate of the refinery did not allow them to enter the area.

SP Korangi Usman Ghani said that when police entered the refinery there was no fire, although the wreckage of the aircraft was scattered in the area.

because of the massive aid package, this does not mean americans can violate the country”s sovereignty……..americans seem to think that because of this, they “own” the country, and consequently, the country owes it to them for their aid…..the price that Pakistan is paying for such aid is destabilisation-the likes of which has never, never been experienced by them.

a visit to Pakistan some two decades ago, showed this country in a tranquil state…….clean, wide avenues, a community at peace.
enjoyed it thoroughly…………….
my heart bleeds for this country, now in a virtual anarchical state
may the almighty grant “sukoon”

Pakistan has been manufacturing small scales drones for quite some time under the Ababeel programme. Pakistan also signed a deal with Italy’s defence manufacturer SELEX Galileo/Galileo Avionica for the Falco UAV some time ago.
Another private firm that manufactures UAVs in Pakistan that the author failed to mention is Integrated Dynamics.
However, these UAVs/drones are all unarmed and do not have the capability to hold or deploy missiles or any other weaponry. They are strictly for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.

THis report is worrying-this ‘drone’ passed over Clifton residential area twice just before the crash was reported-the sound of its engine just wasn’t right-what is the necessity of these over highly populated areas?

Drones? You can buy a large remote control-petrol engine plane for less than $5000. Put a wire-less digital camera (costs less than $500) on it, but a $200 monitor to view the video and u have a “high-tech” surveillance drone!! This is what the NAVY has!

New variations on the Predator are being created to expand its capabilities. By modifying the airframe they will be able to fly the new Predator variations at up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters). The new model is called the MQ-9 Altair

@ Saudi Rules ~ Why don’t you do it, make a small firm, it can be a next big idea :p

@ Cautious ~ I have visited one of the firms 5 years back in the outer region of Islamabad, They are making it for quite a long time. No need of American, the all were paki, and infact all the workers were trained locally and they were using solar energy ( i guess they knew that energy crises is coming ).

The reason for Pakistan going down this slippery slope is because unlike 2 decades ago, American, Pakistani and Talibani interests are misaligned. Pakistan was still the recipent of aid from america then, and it is still a recipent of american aid now.Try, just try, getting off American aid. If you think life is bad now, it will seem like a walk in the garden compared to that scenario.